Anonymous

The Secret History of the Duke of Alançon and Q. Elizabeth. A True History

London

Will with the Whisp

1691

"The Earl, who had seen her sometime before her Imprisonment, and would have been glad to make some diversion in the Duke's Heart, assured him, that he had never seen any thing so admirable; and, in order to convince him of it with the more ease, he shew'd him a Picture drawn very like her, which he had at that time about him."

The Duke of Alançon was too generous not to interess himself in the disgraces of a Princess, who was esteemed with Reason the fairest, and the most Virtuous Lady of her Age. He had even a secret inclination for her, which was as it were a Foresight of what should happen to him So that when the Earl spoke to him of her, he found him as apt to deplore Marianna's Misfortunes, as to aggravate the Queen's Cruelty. In fine, as two Rivals often unite themselves together to be revenged upon an ungrateful and perfidious Mistress; the hatred which the Duke of Alançon had before for the Earl, ceasing with the jealousie which had occasioned it; he insensibly demanded of him, whether it were true, that she was as Beautiful as Report gave her out to be? The Earl, who had seen her sometime before her Imprisonment, and would have been glad to make some diversion in the Duke's Heart, assured him, that he had never seen any thing so admirable; and, in order to convince him of it with the more ease, he shew'd him a Picture drawn very like her, which he had at that time about him.
(pp. 57-8)

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Anonymous, The Secret History of the Duke of Alançon and Q. Elizabeth. A True History (London: Printed for Will with the Whisp, 1691).

06/14/2013